Good Stuff

Re-skilling

This post from Russell Davies really captured my imagination.

The whole idea of the world becoming a place were we might need to re-learn a lot of forgotten skills seems a little daunting. In this era built on cheap-oil we've become so used to the idea that if something doesn't work, you simply replace it. Clearly, this mentality simply isn't going to see us through. At some point we're going to run out of options and start re-thinking the way we consume. I think Russell is right in pointing this out. I too have had a nagging feeling about this.

I have had similar feelings about the skills I'm going to be able to pass on to my kids. I can repair a puncture though! That's about it.

However, when I'm feeling depressed about my lack of skills in this area I try and look at it from another point of view.

The kind of enormous change we're talking about here will also require thinkers - ideas. Although I do believe things might get pretty rough and necessity will replace aspiration in many cases, I do not believe people will instantly forget about brands. They'll still want brand experiences and they still identify themselves with interesting concepts. How, for example could you make it cool to repair your television or sofa? Might it become more of a statement not to buy something in the first place and how might we brand this?

Russell, has previously blogged and talked about delivering brand experiences without delivering a product. I can see there's lots of scope for really exciting stuff here.

Actually, the sort of challenges that lie ahead of us represent a brilliant opportunity for people like us.
We have the opportunity to be radical. We have in fact the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and re-design life and the role brands have. Now there's a creative brief.

I am feeling better about my poor carpentry skills already.

Re-cycling update

Following my earlier post on recycling forums on the web: (Thanks to Danny for his commment.)

Here's an exciting new network of virtual skips called Vskips.

Re-use Re-cycle Re-ikea

Here's an entire site dedicated to getting creative with IKEA products. I really like idea of breathing life into household objects that you might be getting a little bored with and it's certainly greener.

School uniforms from plastic bottles

Found this interesting little article on school uniforms made from re-cycled plastic.

Via The Guardian

One man's junk...

After a trip to the local dump on Saturday I was astounded to see what people throw away. I counted five bikes, one of which would have taken home and repaired if I could have reached it. (I didn't fancy climbing into the container it was burried in and there was an official looking man in brightly coloured over-alls staring at me.)

I've already signed up to my local freecycle group here in Copenhagen (if they ever reply to my mail) but there yet another re-cycling initiative coming along apparently. It's called MySkip. You can read a little more about it here.